Funeral arrangements have been scheduled for a Mississippi gospel singer who died in a house fire last week.
Officials confirmed J.B. Mance, 98, died in the early-morning blaze that took place on Dec. 3 at his home in the 2700 block of Newport Street in Jackson. While firefighters quickly contained the fire, Mance was pronounced dead at the scene.
A memorial service for Mance will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, per a report from WLBT. The service will begin at 11 a.m. and take place at Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church in Madison, where Mance’s nephew serves as pastor.
Mance was known for his time with the Soul Consolators, a local gospel group. He played on the blues circuit and performed in not only his home state of Mississippi but also California, Illinois, Wisconsin, and others. Mance is the father of Dorothy Moore, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer who was behind a hit version of “Misty Blue.”
While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, firefighters believe it started in the front room of Mance’s home. About 50 percent of the home was reported as damaged.